klaus



' Nov. 19, 1957 H.-w. KLAUS MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Filed oct. 8,t 1956 Y JNI/ENTOR Y Y HARVEY# KLAUS MAGNETIC SEPARATOR Harvey W. Klaus, Puente, Calif., assigner of sixty percent to H. E. Vogt, Duarte, Calif.

Application October 8, 1956, Serial No. 614,410

` Claims. (Cl. 209-218) This invention relates to the treatment of ores and in particular to the mechanical separation of magnetic values from non-magnetic values.

Magnetic separators have long been known and used in the ore classication iield. However, in general the efficiency of these devices has been low. 'Ihis low eiliciency has prevented the use of these devices in situations where magnetic separation, if eifective, would be the cheapest and most desirable means for the job.

One cause of the low eiciency of conventional magnetic separators appears to reside in an insufficient agii tation of the ore in regions where a gross separation of large quantities of magnetic values is to be accomplished, and an excessive agitation in regions where only a small relative percentage of non-magnetic values remains to be disposed of. In the iirst instance, this results in excessive entrainment of magnetic values in the nonn1agnetic,`

causing an undesirable loss of magnetic values. In the second instance, this results in an excessive entrainment of non-magnetic values in the magnetic. In both cases, values are lost, and the recovered ores are ordinarily lbut poorly separated.

It is an object of this invention to provide a magnetic separator which can provide separation of magnetic from non-magnetic values with less entrainment of nou-magnetic values than is ordinarily possible with conventional separators.

This invention is carried out by providing a chamber with a top and a bottom. This chamber is tilted so that ore can slide therethrough along the bottom. A feature of this invention resides in a hinged mounting for this chamber, and means for vibrating the said chamber around said hinged mounting, whereby the amplitude of vibration of said chamber is greater at points farther from the hinged mounting means than it is at p'oints closer to said hinged mounting.

Another feature of this invention resides in magnetic means disposed outside of the chamber, above the top` thereof, for attracting magnetic values to the said top of the chamber. Said magnetic means are movable so as to draw the magnetic values along said top to an exit from the chamber, counter current to the sliding, downslope, movement of the non-magnetic values.

According to a preferred but optional feature of this invention, said magnetic means comprises a belt upon which are mounted a plurality of permanent magnets.

The above and other features of this invention will be `fully understood from the following detailed description ing to the invention in which a separation chamber 10 is mounted, by a hinge mounting comprising pivots 11`, 12, 'to uprights 13 and 14 (see Fig. 2).

These pivots 11 and 12 are disposed near the upper region of said sepnited States Patent aration chamber. Uprights 15, 16 are provided near the other lower end of the separation chamber, and the separation chamber is restrained to pivotal movement around the pivots by a pin` 17 in a slot 18. This slot is disposed in a plate 19 fastened to upright 15. If desired, a similar slotted plate (not shown) may be attached to upright 16. This mounting means permits the separation chamber to pivot` around the hinge means near its upper end. It will be appreciated that the amplitude of an arcuate movement of a given number of degrees at any point will be in direct proportion to the distance of the point from the pivots; the greater the distance, the greater the amplitude.

The separation chamber comprises a bottom 20, a top 21, and sides 22 and 23. The lower end of the chamber is closed by plate 24. The upper end has a magnetic values outlet 25 which comprises an opening of the chamber, with an apron 26 projecting upward beyond lthe opening. A catch bin 27 is provided below the mag# netic values outlet to catch material which falls from this outlet. lack screws 28 are provided at the bottoms of the uprights so that the tilt of the separation chamber can be varied. Asfshown in this illustration, the separation chamber is preferably so disposed and arranged that it is sloped in two directions, that is, downward and to the left in both Figs. l and 2.

A supply hopper 29 discharges into a supply inlet 30 (see Fig. 3) which is disposed in the sidewall 23 of the separation chamber at approximately midway in the length of the chamber. A non-magnetic values outlet 31 is provided at the lower corner of the separation chamber and connects to a spout 32 which discharges non-magnetic values into a catch bin 33.

Vibrator means 34 are provided for vibrating the separation chamber. As best shown in Fig. 2 a pillow block 35 bears against the bottom of the separation chamber. This pillow block has a socket 36 for receiving a cam follower 37. In Fig. 1 this cam follower 37 is shown riding the profile of a rotatable cam 38. The cam is rotated by power supplied through shaft 39 and pulley 40.

The location of this vibration means is adjustable so that the slope of the table can be varied and also so that the amplitude of the vibration may be varied. Screw 41 is threaded through a transverse beam 42 to which a ways 43 is bolted. These ways are shiftable to right and left as shown in Fig. l by means of the slots 44 in the foot thereof in which the tie-down bolts 45 permit a certain amount of shifting. Screw 46 adjusts the position to the right and left in Fig. l. Screw 41, by being turned, raises or lowers a support block 47 which rides in Ways 43 for upward and downward movement.

It will be appreciated that in case the slope of the table is lessened, screw 41 Will have to be turned so as to raise support block 47 in order that the cam follower, through the pillow block, can contact the bottom of the separation chamber. In case the amplitude of vibration of the chamber is to be changed without changing the cam itself, screw 46 will be turned so that the ways 43 are shifted closer to or farther away from the pivots, whereby the same axial movement of the cam follower will result in a greater or lesser angular movement (and therefore amplitude) of the separation chamber around the pivots.

Magnetic means are provided for drawing the magnetic values of the ores to the top of the separation chamber, and to then move them upwardly along the top until they fall from the apron 26 into the catch bin 27. For this purpose, a belt 51 is wound around drums 52 and 53. DrumV 52 is powered by motor 54 through belt and pulley drive 55, which turn shaft 56 and thereby rotate the drum 52. This rotation of the drums causes the belt `to travel in a closed loop so that itslower arm is subchamber.

stantially parallel to, and above, the top of the separation chamber. A plurality of permanent magnets 57 are attached in rows to the belt, and are thereby moved upwardly along the top, being disposed above said top. These permanent magnets are preferably provided in a plurality of parallel rows so that material sliding downward and to the left in Fig. 3 passes through the magnetic fields of several rows of magnets. These magnets are preferably of the type known as a Pott magnet. This magnet does not exert any appreciable field around its sides but does have a polar field, which in this device extends downward into the chamber. A suitable material for the top of the said chamber is aluminum, which is pervious to the magnetic iield.

The slope of the separation chamber and of the belt 51 can be changed by the jack screws so that the slope in either direction can be selected from a wide range of potential values. A slope of in each direction has been found suitable for many ores. It will be observed that the top and bottom of the separation chamber slope downward from inlet 30 in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the magnets, so that the material crosses the magnetic paths The top and bottom also slope downward from the magnetic values outlet in a direction generally aligned with said direction of movement so that material tends to slide yaway from said magnetic values outlet toward the lower end of the chamber. The resultant sliding movement of non-magnetic material along the bottom is, of course, substantially diagonal from the inlet to the non-magnetic values outlet, while the magnetic values are moved along the chamber top toward apron 26.

The operation of this device will now be described. The slope of the separation chamber is first adjusted by the jack screws. The amplitude of the vibrations is adjusted by screws 41 and 46. Thereafter, the cam 38 is turned to vibrate the table.

Ore which may be the ground-up product of a mill, and containing both magnetic and non-magnetic values, is dumped into hopper 29. The ore passes through the supply inlet and falls onto the bottom of the separation chamber.

The drums 52 and 53 are turned, and the magnets on the belt move upslope toward the upper end of the separation chamber. In this movement, the magnets attract the magnetic values to the top of the separation chamber. The non-magnetic values remain on the bottom of the As the magnets progress, they not only hold the separated magnetic values to the top of the chamber, but move these values with the magnets toward the upper end of the chamber to the apron 26. At this point, the magnets proceed upward and around the drum 52. For a moment at this time there is no magnet close to the apron to attract the magnetic values at the apron. These values therefore fall into the catch bin 27.

In the meantime, the non-magnetic values have gradually slid downward and to the left (as shown in Figs. 1 and 2), to the non-magnetic values: outlet 31, which is the lowermost corner of the separation chamber. They discharge through the spout 32 and fall into the catch bin 33.

A given axial movement of the cam follower exerted on the separation chamber at a given point along the separation chamber will cause an arcuate movement of a unique amount around the pivots. The actual arcuate travel of any point in the separation chamber; that isl the amplitude of vibration of that point, is proportional to the distance of that point from the pivots. Therefore, the non-magnetic values approaching the lower end of the separation chamber, are subjected to an increasingly vigorous agitation, while the magnetic values, approaching the pivots, are subjected to a diminishing agitation.

The increasing agitation of the non-magnetic values lessens the chances of entrainment of magnetic values in the non-magnetic. In operation, this device keeps the ore in the separation chamber almost in suspension in the air, and a definite churning operation is provided. This action increases the probability that magnetic values will be drawn to the top of the chamber.

Once the magnetic values are drawn to the top of the chamber, it is desirable that they not be shaken loose. However, a certain amount of agitation does shake out entrained non-magnetic values. The shaking action on the magnetic values which are held to the top of the chamber by the magnets is greater near the lower end of the chamber, where the most entrained non-magnetic material is to be expected. It is less near the upper end, where the magnetic values have already been shaken more vigorously while nearer the lower end. It will be appreciated that the vibrational forces in this separation chamber may be greater than the vibrational forces permissible in most magnetic separators, and that the particle sizes may be ground liner, inasmuch as the dusty conditions which pertains in the instant device are substantially confined within the chamber, and do not scatter through the mill or the separator house.

The provision of the magnets in a plurality of rows is advantageous, inasmuch as magnetic values which have escaped the iirst row of permanent magnets will probably be caught by the second or other succeeding row or rows, it being understood that there is no limitation on the number of rows provided.

Still another beneficial feature of this invention resides in the structure whereby simple permanent magnets may be used instead of electro-magnets, if desired, it being understood that magnet means other than permanent magnet means can be used, and are within the scope of this invention. Electro-magnetic systems are known wherein electro-magnets are turned on and off at the ends of their runs along the material to be separated. The provision of a system enabling permanent magnets to be used does away with the complex electro-magnets and their control equipment.

The combination of countercurrent flow and right-angle flow of the ores to be separated and of the magnets provides for an optimally 4complete agitation and separation of the magnetic and non-magnetic values.

In the separation of magnetite from Scheelite and Wolframite, a separation has been accomplished with this device in which only 0.03% of the non-magnetic values were lost to the magnetic values.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings and described i-n the description, which are given by of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A magnetic separator for separating magnetic values from non-magnetic values in ores, comprising: a separation chamber, said separation chamber comprising a top and a bottom, said top and bottom being tilted, said top being made of a magnetically pervious material; hinge means pivotally mounting said chamber for pivotal movement around said hinge means; an inlet to said chamber; a non-magnetic values outlet from said chamber; and a magnetic values outlet from said chamber; said magnetic values outlet being higher and closer to the hinge means than the inlet and the non-magnetic values outlet, vibrating means for vibrating the said chamber whereby said chamber oscillates in an arc about said hinge means, and magnetic means disposed above said top and moveable in a direction generally toward said hinge means and away from said non-magnetic values outlet, whereby said vibration of the chamber agitates material introduced to the chamber through theinlet, and causes the said material to slide toward the non-magnetic values outlet, and the magnetic means` draws magnetic values to the top of the separation chamber and moves said magnetic values along said top to and through the magnetic values outlet.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the top and bottomof the separator chamber are parallel.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the top and bottom of the separator chamber are parallel, said top and bottom sloping downward from said inlet in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said magnetic means, and also sloping downward from said magnetic values outlet in a direction generally aligned with said direction of movement.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3 in which the vibrator means exerts its vibrational forces at a point between said hinge means and said non-magnetic values outlet.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which said magnetic means comprises a belt bearing permanent magnets, said belt being so disposed and arranged that its linear motion is toward the hinge means and away from the non-magnetic values outlet.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the inlet is disposed at approximately the mid-point of the upper side edge of the bottom of the separation chamber.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said top and bottom slope downward from said inlet in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of said magnetic means, and also slope downward from said magnetic values outlet in a direction generally aligned with said direction of movement.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the vibrator means exerts its vibrational forces at a point between said hinge means and said non-magnetic values outlet.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 in which said magnetic means comprises a belt bearing permanent magnets, said belt being so disposed that its linear motion is toward the hinge means and generally away from the non-magnetic values outlet.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the inlet is disposed at approximately the mid-point of the upper side edge of the bottom of the separation chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 453,317 Townsend June 2, 1891 466,515 Reed Jan. 5, 1892 719,397 Waugh et al. Ian. 27, 1903 1,071,839 Weatherby Sept. 2, 1913 1,648,478 Herbert Nov. 8, 1927 

